Disclosure: Please note, that when you click certain links and purchase certain items through my Website , I will receive a referral commission. You can learn more by following this link. Thanks for your support!

How to Sketch a Horse Step by Step

About Sandy Sandy

Since 1996, Sandy Sandy has been a professional fine artist and has devoted her career to painting full time. After a divorce, she left behind a thriving advertising, illustration and sign company which she owned and operated for seventeen years. Sandy currently works in her spacious art studio from her NJ Pine Barrens home. Here she is inspired by the wildlife that visits her yard daily. A strong connection with animals and nature is evident in her choice of subjects. Her philosophy of “spirit” is woven into her work, where thousands of watercolors have given way to her flowing expressionist style.

Collectors of Sandy’s original paintings can be found throughout Canada and the US. Commissions are always welcomed to create specific works for individuals and organizations such as The NJ Symphony Orchestra. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration from Moore College of Art and Design and attended The Art Institute in Philadelphia. Having studied watercolor with many nationally known watercolor masters including those from the E.A.Whitney, Brandywine and New Hope Schools has given her roots that are strong in the American Art Tradition. Sandy currently provides uplifting, motivational and instructional content in her various free online communities. She also is available for speaking engagements, demonstrations, workshops and classes.

How to Sketch a Horse Head by Sandy Sandy

Woo, I am psyched! I’ve got some new and exciting ideas for this year’s summer sketching series. I hope a few of you artists will step up and share your input with me and our readers. Remember that in every aspect of our lives, we get back in direct proportion to what we give out. I guess that’s one of the many reasons for my continuance of this daily drawing challenge over the years.

One of the changes I want to make to this blog is to really “K.I.S.S. IT!” or, “Keep It Simple Stupid” or as I like to put it, “Keep It Sensationally Simple”. I went online to see what kind of drawing instruction is available. And wow, there’s a lot of it and most of it is pretty darn good! So does the world really need another drawing mentor? Well, I don’t know, I guess that’s for you, my fellow artists and friends to answer. Please let me know how I’m doing from time to time.

To launch the season, I’m starting off with a simple drawing demo of a horse portrait in profile. I’m showing how the foundation starts off with three simple shapes; a long triangle, a circle and a square.

I add directional lines and divide the shapes in half. This gives me a point of reference for angles and location of the features.

I divide the top half of the circle and find the location for the eye. The mouth follows the directional line of the head as does the top and bottom outline. The crest of the neck is drawn and the slight S curve is added to it’s underside. The outline of the nose is rounded some and the nostril is indicated with a semi-circle curve. The ears sit below the poll.

In finishing the sketch, I add some subtle curves, slightly indicate muscle and bone structure and add a mane and forelock.

With the pencil drawing complete, I quickly brush clear water to the edges and then “whack on” a light grey value *with a dry brush. Try not to go over the paper more than once and don’t scrub. I am only using drawing paper in my sketchbook, not watercolor paper. This teaches you to work swiftly and then get out of there. ” In watercolor, just like in golf, the least amount of strokes wins the game.” ~ Tony Couch

Then lickety-split, while the area is still damp, I add darker values* and a few details. and. . . there you have it!

So, why not copy these steps and give it a try!?

If you are new to my blog, or just a little rusty, referring to my Sketching Everyday Lens on Squidoo will probably answer your *questions. You can also study my watercolor sketching techniques in greater detail on my drawing demo pages on DrawingEveryday.com.

I love horses but for the life of me I can’t sketch one. I can trace one on canvas and paint it and it’s very good but can’t sketch one. I paint horses by feel. I am a horse trainer and can feel the movement of the horse but still can’t sketch one. I will try your method. I conceder myself a “want to be” artist, self taught. I read anything that will help me.